RETURNED SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 10, 11 January 1918, Page 6

RETURNED SOLDIERS.

OVER FOURTEEN THOUSAND BACK

(By Telegraph.— Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Thursday. A statement issued to-night by the Attorney-General shows that 14,240 soldiers sick or wounded returned to the Dominion. A return made on November 29 showed 11,981, and the large increase is dv'ie to the recent arrival of five transports with 226G men. Mr. Herdman said that very satisfactory work was being done by the Discharged Soldiers' Infor-* mation Department in the settlement of returned men. With tne sulei.did assistance which many employers of labours were giving, combined-with schemes prepared by the Department for reabsorption of men, there werejfno difficulties immediately ahead of the* Department that could not, he thought, be surmounted.- If all employer? of .labour would notify the Department when a man was wanted they would not only be assisting the Government, but, discharging a very good service to their country. Of 219 men shown in the statement as needing employment most of them had just been discharged from the Army. Until the men were actually discharged the Departemnt could not take action in regard to securing them employment. The Minister expressed no doubt that during the present month all these men would be absorbed in some employment euited to their qualifications and conditions. ' , _.